first law
noun
: the most important principle
He teaches his students that balance is the first law of architecture.
Examples of first law in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 1976, Congress passed the Resource Conservation Recovery Act, which was the first law that tracked waste materials from their creation to their disposal and set tough standards for how to dispose of them.
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James Salzman, The Conversation, 5 Jan. 2026
Stetson launched the state’s first law school in 1900, allowing Central Floridians to study the law without needing to move to Chicago or New York.
—Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
In 2021, Texas passed one of the first laws in the country to allow parents to seek second medical opinions when they are accused of abusing their children.
—Dan Slepian, NBC news, 24 Dec. 2025
California made history in early October by enacting the first law in the United States to define and ultimately ban problematic ultraprocessed foods in public schools.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for first law
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James Salzman, The Conversation, 5 Jan. 2026
Stetson launched the state’s first law school in 1900, allowing Central Floridians to study the law without needing to move to Chicago or New York.
—Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
In 2021, Texas passed one of the first laws in the country to allow parents to seek second medical opinions when they are accused of abusing their children.
—Dan Slepian, NBC news, 24 Dec. 2025
California made history in early October by enacting the first law in the United States to define and ultimately ban problematic ultraprocessed foods in public schools.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for first law
Cite this Entry
“First law.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first%20law. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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